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Molecular Diagnostic Advances in Transplant Infectious Diseases

  • Transplant and Oncology (M Ison, N Theodoropoulos and S Pergam, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Infectious Disease Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The infectious complications of transplantation can have devastating consequences for patients. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to good outcomes. This review describes recent advances in pathogen-directed diagnostic testing and discusses the role of new methods for transplant infectious diseases.

Recent Findings

Several molecular assays have been introduced into clinical practice in recent years. When the results of rapid testing are linked to patient-specific interventions, improved outcomes can be realized. Syndromic testing along with metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) represents novel approaches to infection diagnosis. However, the optimal use of these tests for transplant patients along with an overall assessment of cost-effectiveness demands further study.

Summary

Molecular diagnostics are revolutionizing transplant care. Clinicians need to be aware of the current diagnostic landscape and have a working knowledge of the nuances related to test performance, result interpretation, and cost.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Brittany A. Young & Kimberly E. Hanson

  2. Associated Regional and University Pathologists Laboratories (ARUP), Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Brittany A. Young & Kimberly E. Hanson

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Kimberly E. Hanson & Carlos A. Gomez

  4. University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, Room 4B319, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Carlos A. Gomez

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Kimberly E. Hanson has served as a consultant for BioFire and T2 Diagnostics and received honoraria for this work.

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Young, B.A., Hanson, K.E. & Gomez, C.A. Molecular Diagnostic Advances in Transplant Infectious Diseases. Curr Infect Dis Rep 21, 52 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-019-0704-7

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